Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in department schools. Appropriates funds.

Establishes notice and reporting requirements for the expenditure or use of public resources by the Governor, pursuant to the Governor's emergency powers. (CD1)

Requires the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority to develop destination management action plans for each county and to perform specific actions in each plan. Expands the powers and duties of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. Repeals the exemption of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority from administrative supervision of boards and commissions. Requires the strategic tourism management plan to include statewide destination management and regenerative tourism efforts and programs. Renames the tourism marketing plan as the strategic tourism management plan. (CD1)

Establishes a two-year program at the University of Hawaiʻi to develop a wildfire forecast system for the State using artificial intelligence. Makes an appropriation. (CD1)

Requires the Department of Agriculture to certify treatments performed on wood chips, compost, and filter socks. Places certain restrictions on the distribution or transportation of plant care components without prior treatment certification from the Department. (CD1)

Clarifies that centralized computer information management and processing services shall be provided through the Chief Information Officer. Specifies that the Chief Information Officer shall be appointed by the Governor and report to the Comptroller. Provides that the salary of the Chief Information Officer shall be established by the Governor. (CD1)

Requires the Department of Health to include in its annual report regarding Kalaupapa Settlement details and updated information, as available, regarding the permanent transfer to other governmental or qualified non-governmental entities of the powers and duties of the Department over Kalaupapa Settlement. Requires the Department of Health to report on its community engagement efforts with community stakeholders and the Molokai community. Sunsets on the first 6/30 after the Revisor of Statutes receives a written gubernatorial proclamation that the referenced transfer is complete. (CD1)

Effective 1/1/2025, allows the Board of Nursing to issue temporary permits to out-of-state licensed registered nurses and practical nurses and nurses who hold a multistate license issued by another state, territory, or country, under certain circumstances. Beginning 7/1/2025, allows an out-of-state licensed practical nurse or registered nurse to apply for a temporary permit simultaneously with an application for a license to practice in the State. Excepts from license requirements nurses who are licensed in another state, territory, or country accompanying a patient from out-of-state for a period of less than two weeks and not employed or affiliated with a health care entity in the State. Takes effect 1/1/2025. (CD2)

Establishes within the Office of Wellness and Resilience the State of Well-Being Project to assess and enhance Tier 1 and Tier 2 mental health support services for all key stakeholder communities across the State. Makes appropriations to implement the State of Well-Being Project including for the establishment of six full-time equivalent mental health specialist positions within the Office of Wellness and Resilience. (CD1)

Requires the Information Technology Steering Committee to assist the Chief Information Officer to develop a plan to enhance the mobile application developed to enable the public to access the State's website. Requires the Chief Information Officer's annual report of the Office of Enterprise Technology Services to include updates on the mobile application. (CD1)